Diving dress



' M y 21 v. R. MCBRIDE ET AL 1,760,512

DIVING DRESS Filed Feb. 16, 1929 I 4 I I [220620251 11m HcBra'cZe 4 Patented May 27, 1930 UNITED STATES Parser] orrics VIVIAN ROY MCBRIDE AND HARRY RICHARD WARD, F MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA, ASSIGNORS OF ONE-FOURTH T0 FEANCIS ALLEN CHARTRL'S AND ONE-FOURTH T0 SYDNEY LAWRENCE CHARTRES, BOTH 0F MELBOURNE, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA.

DIVING DRESS Application filed Februaiy 16, 1929, Serial No. 340,518, and in Australia March 12, 1928..

This invention relates to deep sea diving dress and the like, and more particularly it relates to an improveddischarge device by means of which low pressure air breathed by the diver can be satisfactorily expelled into the surrounding high pressure water.

lVith ordinary diving dress it has hitherto been necessary to use compressed air in the dress in order that the air can be satisfactorily expelled against the high pressure of the water. The diver is consequently forced to breathe high pressure air, which is injurious to the lungs and when breathed for lengthy periods tends to cause paralysis or other serious injury.

Our invention enables low pressure air to be used within ordinary diving dress by providing a device which will effectively discharge the low pressure air into the surrounding high pressure water. The improved device is also particularly suitable for use with diving dress of the double-compartment type described in the specification of Australian Patent No. 3889/26, dated 17th September, 1926, granted to Ernest R. Clifford.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a view showing the invention applied to a diving dress of ordinary character.

Figure 2 is a sectional detail view ofthe improved discharge device.

Figure 3 is a view showing the invention applied to a diving dress of the typedescribed in the prior Australian Patent No. 3889/26.

Referring initially to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, 2 indicates an ordinary diving dress and 3 the usual air supply line connected thereto. According to the invention, we

provide an improved discharge valve 4 by means of which the low pressure air within the dress is expelled into the water. This valve 4, as illustrated in Figure 2, comprises a tapered jet 5 and a casing 6 arranged concentrically around said jet and spaced sufficiently therefrom to provide a narrow annular suction space 7 Fitted to the inner end of the tapered jet 5 is a needle valve 8 or the like which is connected by a pipe 9 to a supply of highly compressed air. This compressed air may be ob tained from an air chamber 10 mounted on the back of the diving dress and connected by a flexible pipe 11 to an air pump or compressor located on a vessel at the surfaceof the water. i f i i The suction space 7 between the jet 5 and the casing 6 is connected to a pipe 12 leading through a suitable needle valve 13 to the interiorportion of the diving dress to receive the low pressure air therefrom. The outlet end 14 of the casing 6 is preferably tapered and it extends beyond the nozzle 15 of the high pressure jet 5 so that ingress of water into the said casing is prevented.

In use, the high pressure air from the air chamber 10 is blown directly into the water through the jet or nozzle 5. The reaction of this high pressure jet of air causes a suction to. be created within the annular space 7 between the casing 6 and the jet, and this suctional force draws the low pressure air from the diving dress through the pipe 12 and causes such low pressure air to be expelled into the water with the high pressure air issuing from the jet 5. Satisfactory circulation of breathing air through the diving dress is thus provided, the air being admitted through the airsupply line 3 and expelled by the action of the valve 4. j

In the application of the invention to divthe aforesaid Patent No. 3889/26, the tapered jet 5 of'thedevice is connected through its valve 8 to the outer high pressure zone 16 of the dress, while the low pressure pipe 12 is connected through its valve 13 to the inner low pressure zone 17.. The action of the high pressure air escaping through the tapered jet 5 creates a suction in the annular space 7, and this suctional force continuously draws the low pressure air from the interior of the dress.

The provision of the two valves 8 and 18 enables the diver to effectively control both the discharge of the high pressure air and the exhaust of the lowpressure breathing air as found desirable according to the depth of water in which he is working. By the in venition diving operations can be carried on intesful effects to divers than is the case by the use of diving dress or gear of conventional or previously existing type.

What We do claim is 1.111 diving dress and the like, an air discharge device comprising a jet connected to a source of high pressure air, a casing arran ed around said jet to form a suction space an a pipe connected from the dress to said suction space whereby air breathed by the diver is exhausted and expelled into the Water by the reaction of the high pressure jet.

2. An air discharge device as claimed in claim 1 and wherein the jet and the concentric casing are tapered towards their dis charge ends, and valves are provided for con trolling the high pressure air jet and the exhausted low pressure air.

3. In diving dress and the like, an air discharge device comprising a jet connected to a high pressure air reservoir on the back of the diving dress, a valve controlling said 'jet, a casing arranged concentrically around Said jet to form a suction space, a pipe leading from the interior of the diving dress to said suction space whereby low pressure air within the diving dress is exhausted by the reaction of the high pressure jet and a valve controlling the exhaust of the low pressure air. 7 d V 4. In diving dress of the type having an inner low pressure zone and an outer high pressure zone, an air discharge device comprising a jet connected to the high pressure 'zone, a valve controlling said jet, a casing arranged concentrically around said jet to form a suction space, a pipe leading from the low pressure zone of the diving dress to said suction space whereby low pressure air breathed by the diver is exhausted by the reaction of the high pressure jet, and a valve controlling the exhaust of said low pressure air.

tures.

VIVIAN ROY MCBRIDE. HARRY RICHARD WARD.

. In testimony whereof We affix oursigna- Y 

